XIV REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES 



Durin<i: the past 3'ear the work of the division of fish culture has 

 consisted in the rearing and distribution of larger numbers of fish 

 and the rendering of assistance to other agencies engaged in the 

 propagation of fish. An output of 7,036,317,000 fish and eggs, exceed- 

 ing the record production of last year by more than 550,000.000, 

 indicates that the facilities of the bureau are being utilized efficiently 

 and full}'. 



An analysis of collections of eggs, upon which the output is based, 

 reveals certain changes in the relative numbers of the various groups. 

 A 100 per cent increase over last year in the number of shad eggs 

 handled is particularly fortunate. On the other hand, the hatch of 

 whitefish and ciscoes in the Great Lakes region declined considerably. 

 While unfavorable weather during the spawning season was a factor 

 in this decrease, yet the continued decline in numbers taken is omi- 

 nous. While the 1928 collections of eggs of the important Pacific 

 salmons were slightly smaller than those of last year, the normal 

 annual fluctuation in the runs of these species will account for the 

 differences. The lake or Mackinaw trout, another important com- 

 mercial form, showed greater than a 17 per cent increase in egg 

 collections. Operations with the pike perch likewise were markedly 

 successful. Collections of eggs of the various species of game trout 

 were virtually on a level with those of last year. A much larger 

 number of cod eggs was handled as a result of the resumption of 

 cod-collecting operations in Maine waters, but this gain was offset 

 to some extent by a decline in the haddock and flounder work. 



A new substation to the San Marcos (Tex.) station was completed 

 during the year at Fort Worth, Tex., and the construction of a new 

 combination trout and pond station, subsidiary to the Spearfish 

 (S. Dak.) station, was begun at Crawford, Nebr., near the close of 

 the fiscal year. Property was acquired, also, for a large bass hatchery 

 at Valdosta, Ga., and construction will begin shortly. 



A survey of the fish-feeding practices of various hatcheries 

 throughout the country was made by questionnaire, which disclosed 

 that 260 hatcheries fed about 6,880,000 pounds of 35 different mate- 

 rials at a cost of $270,800. Of these foods, sheep plucks were used 

 most extensively^, exceeding 1,000,000 pounds, while horse meat, beef 

 liver, pig liver, beef lungs, fish, and cereal products followed in the 

 order named. 



COOPERATIVE FISH-CULTURAL WORK 



The division of fish culture has aided in the propagation of fish by 

 outside agencies in several waj'S, chiefly under the cooperative nur- 

 sery plan, whereby clubs and sportsmen's organizations receive and 

 rear fish on a share basis. Eighty-six of these units are now cooper- 

 ating with the bureau in the States of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, 

 Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, 

 Michigan, Colorado, and West Virginia, and the work is still expand- 

 ing. These establishments were furnished about 2.675,000 fish dur- 

 ing the year and their output of fish from the previous year's allot- 

 ments amounted to about 50 per cent. Three groups (in Harrisburg, 

 Pa., Windber, Pa., and Barneveld, N. Y.) have each provided a com- 



